Car-coupling



(Nd Model.)

F. B. WOODMAN. OAR COUPLING.

No. 476,349. Patented June '7, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

FRANK n. WOODMAN, or CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,349, dated JuneY, 1892.

Application filed September 1, 1 891. Serial No. 404,478. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK WooDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car- Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of carcouplers commonly known as vertical-plane or Janney couplers; and its object is to improve the construction of the device for looking the knuckle or locking-jaw and unlocking the same, with a view to the greater efficiency, safety, and durability of this type of coupler and the cars to which they may be attached.

The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an end view of a device embodying my invention as applied to a car. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The draw-head A and knuckle B are of the usual general form and need no general description. One side of the draw-head is, however, provided with lugs A to serve as a hearing for the lever D, hereinafter to be more fully described. The throat of the draw-head is made with parallel vertical walls, which are provided with diagonal ribs a Ct to form a hearing for the locking-block (J. The block Chas projecting cheeks c c, which slide on the inclined ribs (L a and abut upon the walls of the draw-head, the lower side of the block, as represented in Fig. 3, bearing against the contiguous wall of the draw-head and theknuckle bearing against the opposite side when in locked position.

To prevent the link of a common coupler from entering the throat of the draw-head and injuring the block or otherparts, the knuckle may be provided with an extension I).

The cars are coupled automatically by the gravity of the block sliding up the incline to allow the tail of the knuckle to pass and then of its own weight dropping back to position.

The device for uncoupling is described as follows: E is a rock-shaft, having a handle ver E and a shorter one or crank E. This rock-shaft is mounted in suitable hearings F, attached to the car near one side, and F, attached to or forming a part of the draw-head. In the throat of the draw-head is mounted, so as to slide endwise thereof, a bar G, having a downwardly-extending portion G, passing through a slot in the lower side of the drawhead. A chain g is attached to each extremity of this bar, the one connecting with the block 0 and the other with the end of the crank E. Now as the rock-shaft is turned the bar and its connections are drawn backwardlyahus disengaging the knuckle and uncoupling the cars. Itis to be specially noted that the connection of the bar with the block is a flexible one. This therefore admits of the block sliding up the incline without disturbing the bar at all. Consequently the action of the block is as free as though there were no connection at all. Indeed, the downward movement of the block is rather aided than otherwise, the weight of the chain helping it to some extent. Several important advantages arise from this construction. It will be observed that the upper part of the draw-head is entirely closed, the connection for unlocking being all beneath. This serves to exclude rain, dirt, the, which would otherwise hinder the operation of the coupler. The connection of the chain with the block also serves to hold it in the throat of the draw-head, thus dispensing with other means for that purpose. It will be seen that the downward extension of the bar G passes below the stirrup H, which holds the drawhead up against the dead-wood I. Now in the event of the tail-bolt of the draw-head breaking the draw-head is drawn out until this part of the bar strikes the stirrup and is drawn back, together with the locking-block, thus releasing the knuckle and uncoupling the two draw-heads. The broken draw-head is thereby left suspended in the stirrup instead of being torn entirely away from the car and by dropping in front of the cars derailing the train, as is frequently the case. The importance of this feature willbe at once apparent. It is desirable that the knuckle as soon as released from its locking position should be carried out to and heldin the proper position for coupling. The first operation is naturally performed by the very action of uncoupling; but, owing to the jolt of thetrain and other causes, it frequently happens that the knuckle gets thrown back to the locked position before coupling, and the effect is often to break it or some other part of the coupler. I therefore provide the coupler with a device for automatically throwing the knuckle outwardly and holding it in that position except when coupled. In the lugs A above mentioned is mounted a lever D, to one end of which is attached a plunger 61, passing through a hole in the side of the drawhead and abutting upon the side of the knuckle. The other end of the lever is connected with a rod D, mounted in suitable bearings (Z d and having a collar d. Be-

tween this collar and one of the bearings is mounted a coil-spring D", the natural action of which is to force the rod outwardly and the plunger in the opposite direction. The rod is provided with a handle whereby it may be operated by the hand without regard to the spring. The operation of this part of the invention will now be seen. On the release of the locking-block the knuckle is at once forced outwardly, and when completely uncoupled the action of the spring and connected parts tends to hold it in that position, so that it is always ready for automatic coupling with its fellow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combination, with a draw-head having inclined guides for the locking-block, substantially as described, of a block adapted to slide on said inclined guides and to automatically lock the coupler, a bar mounted in the draw head back of the block, with a portion extending below and through a slot in the draw-head, a chain connecting the bar with the block, and means, substantially as described, connecting with the other end of the bar to draw the same back.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination of a rock-shaft extending from the draw-head to or near the side of the car, a lever at the outer end, a crank at the inner end, a connection thereof with the downwardly-extending end of a bar sliding inside the draw-head,a block adapted to lock the knuckle by its own gravity, and a chain connecting it with the forward end of the said bar, and a stirrup supportingthe draw-head under the deadwood, the said stirrup being adapted to catch the extending portion of the bar and uncouple the pair of draw-heads in case the tail-bolt breaks.

3. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combination, with the draw-head and its pivoted knuckle, of a lever pivoted at one side of the draw-head, a plunger attached to one of its ends, and a rod connected with the other end, with a handle thereon, whereby the knuckle may be thrown out to coupling position by the operator at the side of the car.

4.. In a car-coupler of the class specified, the combination, with the draw-head and its pivoted knuckle, of a lever pivoted to one side of the draw-head, a plunger connected with one end, a rod connected with the other end and extending to or near the side of the car, and a spring adapted to force said rod normally outwardly, thereby forcing the plunger inwardly and against the knuckle to throw it outwardly when uncoupled.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. WOODMAN.

lVitnesses:

J. S. SAMMONS, S. W. BRAINERD. 

